Re-entry permits are needed for green card holders who plan to be absent from the United States for a period of 1 year or more. Normally, an absence outside the United States for a year or more invalidates a green card for abandonment. A reentry permit establishes that you did not intend to abandon status, and it allows you to apply for admission to the United States after traveling abroad for up to 2 years without having to obtain a returning resident visa.
One should file this application well in advance of a planned trip. The I-131 can only be applied for if If one leaves the country while the permit is pending, one can be put into a tough situation if the permit is approved for a shorter period of time than expected or denied. Furthermore, USCIS may need your biometrics (fingerprints). If one leaves before the biometric appointment, then one cannot appear for the appointment and the I-131 will be denied. However, one can indicate on the Form I-131 that you would like USCIS to send your reentry permit to a U.S. Embassy, consulate or a DHS office overseas, so you can pick it up from one of those facilities. One may also get a reentry permit if he/she plans on traveling outside the United States without a passport from a home country. Many countries throughout the world may allow American green card holders to use a reentry permit like a passport—placing necessary visas and entry and exit stamps in the permit. However, be careful if you plan on this course of action. One must be sure to check with the country you plan to visit beforehand to see if that country permits this practice.
Advance parole allows one to travel back to the United States without having applied or received a visa. Airlines can accept an advance parole document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. However, an advance parole document does not replace a passport and US CBP is technically entitled to still deny entry (although a denial is not a common occurrence).
A popular form of advanced parole is when people file a form I-131 with their application to adjust status. This allows for people to leave and re-enter the United States while their green card is still pending. Without this advanced parole, one would have their pending I-485 application denied. Humanitarian (Advanced) Parole allows an individual who may be inadmissible or otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States to be in the United States for a temporary period for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. If an individual holds one of the following nonimmigrant visa classifications, then advanced parole is not required:
USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status.
A refugee travel document is required to return to the United States if:
CNMI Long-Term Residents, who are otherwise not permitted to travel to the rest of the United States, can apply for a grant of Advance Permission to Travel for allows them to travel to any other part of the United States for temporary and legitimate purposes without automatically terminating their CNMI long-term resident status.
CNMI long-term residents must obtain advance permission before departing the CNMI to travel to any other part of the United States (including Guam). Any travel in violation of these restrictions will result in the automatic termination of status.
I worked with Anu and her team regarding an EAD issue that was going to affect my employment. From the beginning, Anu was able to understand the problem and provided excellent guidance and recommendations. She was able to work on filling the case very quickly on my behalf. She kept me in loop throughout the process. She explained every step of the process very well and was able to answer all the questions I had in a manner I can understand.
...I would highly recommend her for any immigration related issues or questions.
I worked with Ms. Anu Gupta at Immigration Desk to apply for permanent residence (green card) for my mother. I am originally from India (naturalized as a US citizen), and I wanted my mother to get a green card so she can visit and stay with us more often. Ms. Gupta was extremely professional and friendly throughout our application process. I always got diligent updates and follow-ups during our process, and she made sure to guide us through every step.
...More importantly, she had a uniquely personal touch with our case, considering the emotional and legal complexities of applying for a green card as an older Indian citizen/parent (like my mother). She had multiple phone calls with my parents where she reassured them about many of their concerns, and talked about her own experience doing the same for her parents in the past. Coming from an Indian background, I could not be more thankful that I worked with her. She made sure to slowly and professionally explain all of the pitfalls and steps that we should be wary of and reassured them that it is possible to have two homes (such as when applying for a green card to stay with children abroad). Indian families have very unique concerns about various life stages and experiences, so I was very happy that I worked with an immigration lawyer who understood all those nuances.
It goes without saying that I will recommend her (and Immigration Desk's) services (especially to Indians), and I will also work with them in the future.
I am writing this with lot of happiness by seeing the approval document in my hand I'm really grateful to Anu and IAN for their support and patience in answering all my questions with their great knowledge.
...Once again, Thank you so much!!
I'm really grateful to Anu and Ian for helping me file my EB1-B (outstanding researcher) petition. They have been amazing and very supportive throughout the process.
...My I-140 got approved recently and I485 is pending which will be approved soon. This was my last hope to work in US and Anu and Ian made it possible with their guidance.
Once again thank you so much guys! You have the best team in Boston.
I have known Attorney Anu Gupta for over 10 years now. I have personally used her for my own green card filling and also as an employer to file for many H1Bs and employment based green cards for our professional employees.
...I cannot describe how well she and her team handled all our cases. Immigration Desk attorneys and their support team are extremely professional, well organized, and very responsive. Even with her busy schedule, Attorney Gupta reviewed all the cases and documents before filing petitions.
Attorney Gupta has offered some great solutions even in some difficult situations and successfully got visa approvals for our company. All of my personal friends and families have used Immigration Desk services. Attorney Gupta has guided me throughout my journey till I got my green card.
I am extremely thankful and grateful for her support. I highly recommend Attorney Gupta for any immigration-related services.